Agenda item

Cabinet Portfolio:                 Adult Social Care and Health

Strategic Directorate:           Adult Care, Housing and Public Health

Consideration was given to a report submitted for pre-decision scrutiny ahead of the Cabinet meeting on 16 September 2019 which concerned the commissioning and procurement of independent advocacy services for adults and provision for young people aged between 16 and 17 years of age. The report sought approval to include the NHS Complaints Advocacy in the scope of the advocacy procurement exercise and to commence a tender process with the objective of mobilising new independent advocacy services from 1 April 2020.

It was reported that independent advocacy services were necessary to meet all of the Council’s statutory requirements under the Care Act 2014, the Mental Capacity Act 2005, the Mental Health Act 2007 and the Health and Social Care Act 2012. Statutory independent advocacy services provided support to people who:-

·            Required assistance throughout the care and support assessment and through the review process.

·            Lacked mental capacity to make decisions about themselves

·            Were detained under the Mental Health Act

·            Required support to complain about service provided by the NHS.

Members welcomed the report and specifically highlighted their pleasure at the quality of the equality analysis provided. Assurances were sought in respect of how the authority would raise awareness of advocacy and how people could access it. Furthermore, Members wanted to know how easy it was to access self-referrals and connector support. In response, it was confirmed that the Council wanted to raise better awareness and access to services and that was why the integrated approach had been recommended in the report. Details were provided of the specific approaches and methods to be deployed in increasing awareness through primary care networks and carers organisations.

Members recommended that the protected learning time which was mandated for primary care networks should be used to provide training on how to access advocacy services. In response, the Cabinet Member indicated that he could support that recommendation in principle and would look at the feasibility of how that would be promoted with primary care networks.

Reference was made to the projected increase in the number of persons with dementia and whether that had been factored into the specification for the procurement approach given that there may be increased need for advocacy services. In response, it was confirmed that the service believed that increased demand could be met within existing budgets. However, the more pressing concern was ensuring that those people and those supporting them were aware of the advocacy services available and how to access them. This would require targeted campaigns, liaison with relevant groups and a better web and social media offer.

As the report recommended following a new commissioning and procurement approach based on the practice of other local authorities, Members sought assurances that the proposed approach was effective and delivering elsewhere. In response, it was confirmed that officers had looked at the models used by Leeds City Council and Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council, where providers had been brought together within an advocacy hub. It was noted that a potential bidder had indicated that a number of providers were willing to work within a lead provider model and there was confidence therefore that the recommendation approach would be appropriate.  

Resolved:-

1.      That the Cabinet be advised that the recommendations be supported.

2.      That GPs be recommended to access training in respect of advocacy services through the protected training time.

3.      That, following twelve months of operation after the award of the contract, an update report detailing performance and outcomes be submitted to the Health Select Commission.